Pulverized fuel carburetor



-Jun 23, 1931. H. ELLIOTT 1,811,461

PULVERIZED FUEL CARBURETOR Filed Feb. 19, 1929 .13 fn L f6 I' 7 a." I l ,A 2 /1 l z 5 9 1135 ai l 3 OQO 'OQO I INVENTOR Patented June 23, 1931 UNirsnsTATEs PATENT OFFICE l HENRY L. ELLIOTT, OF CLAYSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, SSIGIIOR- OF ONE-THIRD 10 THOMAS VJ. HENDERSON, OF WASHINGTON, PENNSYLVANA PULVERIZED FUEL GARBURETOR Application filed February 19, 1929.

provide an apparatus of the character de- 1D scribed which will carburet air with. pulverized material to render the latter highly lcombustible and provide a most efficient and 'i "ab economical pulverulent fuelfor any purpose;

which embodies novel means for storing the material priorto carburetion and for conveying the same subsequent thereto; and which includes an agitator element for leveling the powdered material, and a condenser for preventing spontaneous combustion and otherwise promoting the eiiiciency of theV fuel.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of the class stated which 1s simable and eiiicient in its use, compact, positive in itsV action, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, maintain and operate.

Vith the foregoing and vother objects in view Vwhich will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention. l

In the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross sectional view of a fuel-carburetor constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Referring indetail to the drawings 1 denotes a hopper or tank'for housing the pulverized material. The tank 1 includes a rounded top 2, and a lower end portion 8 Serial No. 341,100.

thereof. The tank 1 is mounted in a supporting frame 5 of any suitable construction.

The tank top 2 is formed with an entrance Vopening 6 through which the pulverized material is placed in the tank 1. The entrance opening 6 is provided with a suitable removable cover 7 An agitator `8 is suspended in the tank 1 and is fixed to the lower end of a square, vertically disposed shaft 9. The latter projects through the tank top 2, and is mounted for rotatable and longitudinal movement in the pair of bearings 10, 11, and in the bearing 12. The pair of bearings 10 and 11 are joined together by a yoke 13, which, together with the former, is fixed to the outer side of the tank top 2. The bearing 12 is disposed inside of the tank 1 and is fixed in position by a pair of bearing brackets 14 and 15, which are respectively fixed to the top and side wall of the tank 1.

The agitator shaft 9 carries a worm wheel 16, which is positioned in the yoke 13 intermediate of the pair of bearings 10 and 11.

The shaft 9 extends through a square opening formed in the worm wheel 16, whereby the former rotates with the latter while being longitudinally shiftable therein. The worm wheel 16 meshes with the worm 17, which is fixed to the shaft of the driving motor 18. f

The latter is secured in position on the tank top 2.

The agitator is substantially propeller shaped, and is turned in such direction that its rotation will cause it to position and maintain itself on the top of the pulverized material in the tank 1. The purpose of the agitator 8 is to maintain the top of the pulverized material constantly leveled, and at the same time impart suicient agitation and vibration to the housed pulverized material to prevent potential stagnation thereo-f during the operation of the device. The natural consistence of the pulverized material causes it to flow freely, and it is seldom that its flow is ever suspended through absolute inertness.

As the agitator 8 always functions on the top of the pulverized material in the tank 1, the variations of its positions are permitted by the longitudinal vertical movement of the shaft 9 in its bearings 10, 11 and 12, and in the worm wheel 16. The vertical movenient of the agitator shaft- 9, however, is liniited by a pair of stop collars 19 and 20. The collar 19 is fixed to the outer end of the shaft 9 and limits its downward movement, while the collar 2O is xed adjacent to .the lower end thereof and limits its upward movement.

A casing 21, providing a mixing chamber 2, is fixed tofand below the lower tank portion 3.V The outlet opening 4 establishes communication between the tank l and the mixing chamber 22, and is provided with a hori- Zontally adjustable plate valve 23 for regulating its opening area to control the passa-ge of the pul'verized inatei'ial from the tank 1 to the mixing chamber 22 to suit conditionsV required. Y A removable screen 24 is mounted to extend horizontally at the .top of the vmixing chamber 22 against the lower end ofthe outlet opening 4 in the tank 1. Y

A cylindrical brush 25 is fixed to the shaft 26, of-an air motor 27, and -is disposed horizontally in the mixing chamber 22. The periphery of the brush 25 brushes the under side'of the screen 24 at all times, but is spaced vfrom the bottom of themixiiig chamber 22.

Thefunction of the brush 25 is to preventv clogging of the screen 24 and to maintain a constant, uniform flow` of pulverized material therethrough during the operation of the device as hereinafter described.

The brush 25 is driven by the air motor 27 which lreceives its air supply from. a4 compressed air reservoir 2S .associated with an air compressor 29. VAn air supply conduit 30, provided with a'suitable regulating valve 31,

establishes communication between the air y reservoir V28 and the air Vmotor 27. yThe air is exhausted andvpasses vfrom the air Ymoto-r 27 to the mixing chamber 22'through the interconnected conduit 27. The tankv top 2 is provided with an air dome 32, which communicates at its lower end with the tank 1. An air conduit 33 establishes communication between the air dome 32 and therair compressor 29.V The air ydome 32is provided with a removable `screen 34, which is disposed below Ithe connection y of the air conduit Bto prevent entrance of `any pulverized material to the conduit 83.

. Acondenser element 35, operated by any suitable means, is fixedly mounted in the tank 1 adjacent to the top thereof. The condenser element 35 is provided for condensing mois tureor dehydrating the stored `a-ii` and. pulverized material to minimize lossof desired volatile properties of the latter. The condenser element 35 'is provided 'with a drain pan 36, which is fixed in thetanl 41 below the former to drain drippings from the operation of the condenser element 35. Y Y

VA short conduit 87 establishes communica- Vtion' between the mixing chamber Y224 and a purposes.

described. f f* in a suitable standard and is provided with some slack permitting of its jiggling action during the passage of airtherethrough to prevent the adherence of any particles of fuel in the conduit 38. that would tend to impede the normal flow of fuelltlirough .the latter. rlhe exible conduit 38 serves las a conveyer rom the device to the apparatus using the nel'.

Intthe operation ofthe :present invention, the compressor 29 sucks its air supply from the interior of the tank 1. As the said air supply is Ydehydrated by the operation of the condenser element 35, the air supply will not only be uniform in itsr properties, but will also provide an air `supply particularly adapted for establishing a most eiiicient fuel admixture. Y Y

. After the air Ais compressed' and stored the reservoir 28., 4the same-is iirst fed through the air motor 27 -to drive .the .latter `and in turn the brush'25 in the mixing chamber'22. As the air is exhausted from the air -motor 27 it passes `through .the mixing chamber 22 gathering the particles orf v.pulverizeiil material ybeing deliveredby the operation ofthe #brush 25,and forcing ythis admixture Eof .air yand .pulverized material, constituting .the fuel, Ythrough the conduit 37, .conduit 38, :and to the apparatusiiltimately consumingthe fuel. The air will not `enter thetank Yl on its passage through the mixing cham-ber 22, as the brush .25 completely closes `the .passage Yopening 4, and the conduits 27 .and t37 are longitudinally aligned ,to respectively expel and receive the .air yon its passage through the chamber 22. n

It will, yof course, .be obvious that rthe regu lation, adaptation, brush .drive arrangement, and many j-other details Iof rconstruotion :may be widely varied without departing from the spirit of the invention in providing :an efficient carbureting apparatus for any .desired pu-repose. f, Y

While lthe kembodiment .of .the invention herein disclosed is intended 'for use connection with a stationary installation, it is to lbe understood that .the Vprinciple of the invention maybe successfully embodied in'coiistructions adaptable to internal combustion engines of motorvehicles, `or for any other Further it is apparent that .any suitable vair suction element may be Vsuccess- 4fully employed for Vdrawing 'the fuel from lthe mixing chamber 22, instead vof 'the'compressed air system asherein Aillustrated and Y what i Ciiumis;

1. In a pulverized fuel Icarbrrreting zappa- .itatus of the character described, a :tank for storing the :pulverized fuel, a mixing chamber disposed belowand communicating wzithzsa-fid tanlncmeans for feeding said fpulverized'tue'l from said tank .toisafid mixing chamber, a oon- :denser element :mounted- 'in said 'tank forwde hydrating the air and pulverized fuel in said tank, a compressed air element drawing its air supply from said tank, and means for passing the compressed air through said mixing chamber for conveying the pulverized fuel from the latter.

2. In a pulverized fuel carbureting apparatus of the character described, a tank for storing the pulverized fuel, a mixing chamber disposed below and communicating with said' said last mentioned means, and an agitator for the pulverized fuel suspended in said tank and longitudinally adjustable in the latter, and means for operating said agitator, said agitator being formed to automatically position and maintain itself on the top of the fuel supply in said tank by the rotation thereof.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HENRY L. ELLIOTT.

tank, means for feeding said pulverized fuel from said tank to said mixing chamber, a condenser element mounted in said tank and operable for dehydrating the air and' pulverized fuel in said tank, a compressed air element drawing its air supply from said tank, means for passing the compressed air through said mixing chamber for conveying the pulverized fuel from the latter, and an agitator operatively supported in said tank.

3. In a pulverized fuel carbureting device, the combination of a tank for storing the pulverized fuel, a mixing chamber disposed below and communicating with said mixing chamber, means for regulating the How of pulverized fuel from said tank to said mixing chamber, a removable screen mounted in said mixing chamber for screening the fuel on its passage from said tank to said mixing chamber, a brush element rotatably mounted in said mixing chamber for feeding the fuel from said tank to said mixing chamber, a condenser element operatively mounted in said tank for dehydrating the air and fuel in the latter, a compressed air supply element drawing its air supply from said tank, and an agitator operatively supported in said tank.

4. In combination, a pulverized' fuel carbureting apparatus of the character described comprising a tank for storing the pulverized fuel, a supportingframe for said tank, a mixing chamber disposed below said tank, said tank provided with an opening communicating with said mixing chamber, means for regulating the flow of the pulverized fuel from said tank to said mixing chamber, a removable screen member mounted in said mixing chamber for screening the pulverized fuel during its passage from said tank to said mixing chamber, a cylindrical brush mounted for rotation in said mixing chamber and engaging the under side of said screen member for feeding the pulverized fuel from the said tank to the said mixing chamber, a condenser element operatively mounted in said tank for dehydrating the air and pulverized fuel in said tank, a compressed air supply element drawing its air supply from said tank, an air motor driven by said air supply element for operating said brush, a flexible fuel conduit for conveying the fuel from said' mixing chamber, means for passing the compressed air through said mixing chamber for driving the fuel from the latter and through said flexible conduit, means for regulating 

